Here we're going to answer your questions about what makes a wakeboard boat, well, a wakeboard boat. Filling you in on all the differences, intricacies, and what makes them function to benefit wakeboarders of all levels.
What is a wakeboard boat and how do they work?
Wakeboard boats are generally identifiable compared to ski boats and other types of boats by a few distinctions, but most noticeably in modern boats is their size and depth, sitting quite high by comparison, and wakeboard towers to allow for a higher tow point.
Hull Designs
Convex Hull: An earlier style of wakeboard boat design, the convex hull involves a slightly different water deflection aimed at generating larger wakes with less weight in the boat, while this does work well, it has its downfall as it doesn't produce the cleanest wakes and is prone to rough rides in choppy water.
Deep-V Hull: A true wakeboard/wakesurf style of hull that carries its V from the bow through to the transom with a greater angle of dead rise at the transom than other hll designs. This allows the boats to sit deeper in the water and displace more water for longer, bigger waves and larger wakes when the boat is loaded. Another benefit due to its V design throughout the entire hull is its ability to handle rough conditions with ease and not get knocked around.
Hybrid Hull: A V design in the nose that tapers out to a lower level of deadrise in the rear, a hybrid hull is built to cover the best of both worlds and are generally found in multi-sport boats, allowing a ballast free boat to sit higher in the transom and provide more user friendly ski washes with less water displacement, which can then be altered with ballast and configurable running gear to give bigger wakes and waves for wakeboarding and wakesurfing.
Flat Hull Design: The traditional ski-style hull, which is designed flatter and with almost a bit of a reverse rise in the transom, is ultimately designed to generate flatter and softer ski washes and is not great for high-level wakeboarding, but can be useful for beginners trying to get their feet.
Ballast
Wakeboard boats in anything manufactured post 2006-07 will have some form of inbuilt ballast to add further weight to the boat. Almost all inbuilt ballast systems involve ballast bags (or Fat Sacs, as they are otherwise known), which will have an integrated pump that will pump water straight from the lake or river to get more water displacement, and can then be pumped out when you're done. How much extra weight you add to the boat is how much bigger the wake will be.
This isn't the only form of ballast, as you can also get smaller additional ballast in the form of lead bags (anything that will add weight works). These are generally to be a bit more picky about weight positioning, and to offset any side-to-side discrepancies and even the weight in both the port and starboard sides of the boat.
If you have an older boat that doesn't have in built ballast, you can buy external bags and pumps that can be used to fill the bags and have them positioned throughout the boat as you like, from in the walkways, to in the lockers.
Towers
A defining feature of wakeboard boats, these feats of engineering are designed to increase the angle of the wakeboard rope and reduce drag on your body for easier deep water starts, but also to give you a higher axis point for when you progress in your jumps, allowing you to get higher, have more carry and have more time to get technical with you trick bag.
The other benefit of wakeboard towers is storage and protection, as wakeboard racks attached to the side allow you to get your boards off the floor of the boat, while higher bimini's offer increased sun protection and, in many cases, on modern wakeboard boats, top-side surfer storage.
The final difference that towers provide has nothing to do with wakeboard boats, but it offers a place to add more speakers, so you can have the full surround sound experience.
Shape
Wake boats these days are quite distinctive in their deeper hull design and higher rise in the wall of the boat, which is built up to allow you to set the boat lower in the water with more ballast, and in turn displace more water.
The aim of the game is displacement, and if you can displace more water in the right manner, you will create a larger wake, which for higher-level riders means more lift off the wake and more time in the air.
Configurable Running Gear
Configurable running gear is any attachment or integrated hull feature that is inbuilt to enhance or alter the wake's shape.
For instance, Malibu has had the instantly recognisable Wedge and Surf Gate combination, while Nautique uses NCRS and NSS, and Mastercraft has the likes of the Surfstar system. All of these are designed to help shape both your wakeboard wake and surf wake on the fly, by helping to change length, lip shape, and even height and steepness.
Can wakeboard boats be used in the ocean and salt water?
This is a multi-faceted question, because essentially, any boat can be used in the ocean and salt water, but depending on the boat, it can have consequences.
When it comes to wakeboard boats, newer models will generally offer the option of a saltwater package, which will generally consist of a saltwater-specific engine that utilises stainless steel components and hardware for corrosion protection, as well as further protective coatings. At the same time, exterior features will also generally be switched out for stainless steel and anodised aluminium components for added durability. This isn't to say that you have 100% protection, as salt water is difficult to keep completely at bay, but it does make a difference.
Now, can you use a non-saltwater edition boat in saltwater? Again, yes. However, you will find a greater and faster rate of wear and tear on your boat as corrosion over time will affect any steel or aluminium components on the boat and the engine, which will show over time.
The best way to avoid getting salt corrosion in your boat is to stay away from salt completely.
What's the difference between a wakeboard boat and a ski boat?
The simplest way to put it (if you have come this far) is that if a boat doesn't have any of the above, it's probably a ski boat. Ski boats are shaped to have smaller, softer wakes for skiers to get from side to side as fast and with as much ease as possible, and generally won't come any bigger than 20-21 feet. This is to minimise the water displacement for better conditions.
The exception to the rule is that you may find a few of these ski models that will have an option for a tower, which allows the ski boat to function as essentially a ski-oriented crossover. Can you wakeboard behind it? Yep, it's actually perfect for beginners, but not great for advanced riders.